Employers conduct interviews to meet the person behind the application or resume. It is his responsibility to hire not only the person with the right skills, but a person who can fit in with the rest of the organization and give him what he pays employees for. The person who can best convince the employer that he can fill his wants will get the job. Ex-offenders stand a better chance of getting a job by understanding exactly what employers are looking for. From experience, I can tell you that aside from the skills to get the job done he is looking for:
Communication Skills
The ability to get ideas across both verbally and in writing in a way that is easy to understand
Honesty/Integrity
The refusal to lie, steal or deceive regardless of circumstance
Strong work ethic
To be conscientious about doing a good job because you take pride in what you do
Teamwork skills
The ability to work well as part of a team to achieve a common goal
Interpersonal skills
The ability to understand and interact well with others
Self-motivation/initiative
A personal desire to set and achieve goals
Flexibility/Adaptability
The ability to adjust to change, think creatively and solve problems effectively and quickly. It also is the ability to work well with those who are different from you.
Dependability
Committed to arrive to work every day, on time, and ready to work
Positive Attitude
Demonstration of enthusiasm through words and actions
Keep these principles in mind as you think about answers to these questions you are likely to hear on your next interview.
Tell me about yourself. This is often the most difficult question because most people are unsure how to answer it. Think of your best qualities
What do you know about our company? It is a good idea to get some basic knowledge of the company.
Why do want to work here? He wants to get a feel for your motivations.
What are your biggest strengths? He is looking for some things about you that will work for him.
What is your biggest weakness? This is a tricky question that is used to weed out applicants. He is looking for honesty, but don’t put yourself down. Use some important weakness that has nothing to do with the job you are applying for.
Why did you leave your last job? Never say anything negative about former job or boss. It will make you look like a troublemaker. It’s ok to say that the job just didn’t work out.
I see you have been to prison. Tell me about that.This question may come up. Simply talk about how regretful you are about past mistakes and what you have learned from your experiences.
How much money are you looking for? This is another question that is used to weed out applicants. Only talk about money if someone offers you a job. Never mention a dollar figure. The best answer is, “I want as much as you can afford to pay me.”
Do you have any questions for me? Most people answer “no” to this question. Show your interest by asking questions about the company or job duties.
Understanding what employers are looking for will allow you to focus your answers around these principles. You must be able to relate your skills and attitudes to best fit the needs of the employer. Being able to do this in a confident manner will land you a job.
